Changing Climates is an academic theme that connects our discussion to global climate change.
In order to act upon your interests (which can include helping to create STEM-based solutions to Environmental Issues), you will need to put in the regular, structured practice required to develop and hone strong problem-solving skills and, in the lab, you will need to gain more experience in grappling with technology in ways that develop a kind of professionalism when facing the need for troubleshooting. Such skills are absolutely necessary in a wide variety of situations (and disciplines). With the right mindset, by working through enough of these exercises you can learn to appreciate (and enjoy!) each of these critically enabling skills. Give me the benefit of the doubt on this: you will need to be open to learning and thinking in a variety of ways, some of which may seem new to you. — It can take a lot of work, at first, just to find your bearings. It does take time to become whatever it is that you are becoming, but by the end of this 15-week semester, you will certainly have great familiarity with your text, which you are likely to return to again and again throughout your life; it will constitute one of your most useful references, simply because it will serve as an encyclopedia that you have already worked through, as we try to grapple with physical concepts (some intuitive and some counter-intuitive), and problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, on a deep level. — Please note that it is especially important to stay up to date on both the readings and assignments. If you invest the necessary work in the course, you'll find it interesting and highly satisfying. Physics is a beautiful and rewarding subject!
There are many additional resources available to assist and guide you. These include a nightly "clinic" or help session run by upper-level Physics students on Monday through Thursday evenings. In addition to posted office hours, you may drop in on your instructor, or arrange a meeting time, or correspond via the class discussion website on Piazza. Please do not hesitate to ask for help. No question or topic is too small! If you are having a lot of trouble with any assignment, please be sure to meet with your instructor or attend a help session as soon as possible. Similarly, if you have ideas about how to make the course better, please let the us know immediately, either in person or via Piazza. We are very happy to implement suggestions, and we have had great success with student suggestions in the past.